Automatically-operating auxiliary lock



J. W. STORER AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING AUXILIARY LOCK Filed Oct. 26. 1922 s Rm Y m Patented May 113, 192.4.

UNITED STATES 1,493,906 PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN W. STORER, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR 'IO RICHARD M. AITKEN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

AUTOMATICALLY-OPERATING AUXILIARY LOCK.

Application filed October 26, 1922.

T r ZZ whom if; vimy concern:

Be it known that l, Jenn \V. STORER, a citizen of the lhiited Statesand a resident of the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in .i iutomatically-bperat.in; Auxiliary Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in protective equipment, as against burglarizing operations, for safe doors or analogous closures, and particularly embodies the novel construction and actuation of an automaticaliy operating: auxiliary locking device, or even a plurality of such auxiliary locking devices if desired.

A though the invention has been primarily devised with reference to a permutation lock controlled safe door, it may nevertheless be employed from various aspects with the bolt shooting: systems of the larger safety 'ault doors, or with even other analogous permutation lock controlled bolting system for closures in general.

For simplicity of disclosure, however, 1 shall simply illustrate and describe the improvements as applied to a safe door equipped with a single one of my improves automatically 'maeratine; auxiliary locking;- bolts. but with the understanding that the invention is not necessarily limited in actual use in these respects.

It is understood. that in attempts to burp;- larize safes, or analogous perii'iutation lock controlled compartments, it is the custom to disrupt the permutation lock tumblers by drilling and punching; or by the employment of electricity. an oxy-acetyleue torch, explosive or other forces. to permit of the manipulation of the. main door bolts.

l r rious devices and systems have accordingly been heretofore employed for automatically attempting to bring supplementary locking means into operation under such emerges cies, but only with a partial degree of real success for that such devices or systems of themselves as a rule have been suspectible of being tampered with in order that they may be rendered inoperative before attemptin;- to disrupt the 'iermutation lock, and hence before the au' 'liary devices could he sprung: into lockingposition. Some of these old devices provide an auxiliary bolt, under spring control, that is retained in set position by a tripping trigger, which "latter is Serial No. 597,194.

itself maintained inoperative by an attached cable or wire that leads to the zone of the permutation lock and is tautly stretched over the bacx of the permutation lock, the idea being that when the permutation lock is disrupted, there will be a strong pull. exerted on. the tautened wire for tripping the trigger and releasing the auxiliary locking bolt. This is all right as far as it goes, but the burglar is wise and hence if he bored a hole through the safe door and clipped the wire cable, or otherwise severed the same without a sharp pull being imparted thereto, before attempting to disrupt the permutation lock, then the auxiliary locking bolt would be rendered inoperative at the outset. i

To a certain extent I also employ the aforesaid feature, but the object of my improvements is to overcome the disadvantageous possibilities thereof by a newly combined arrangement of the old and additional elements, whereby the auxiliary locking bolt will of itself be caused to automatically operate positively, not only when and if the permutation lock is in any manner disrupted but also should the connections leading therefrom to the auxiliary bolt trigger be severed prior to the attempted disruption of the main or permutation lock.

The foregoing as well as other objects and adxantages, however, including; simplicity of construction, assured eliiciency in opera tion, and comparatively small cost of production and installation, will. be so clearly apparent incidental to the following; disclosure that it would serve no useful purpose to further enlarge upon the same ini tially.

llith these prefacing: remarks, therefore, reference will now be immediately had to the accompanying drawings illustrating a practical embodiment of the improvements, in. which drawings-- Figure l. an elevational view of the auxiliary locking device itself; Figure 2 is an analogous view looking in a direction at right angles to Fig. 1, with parts being shown in central longitudinal section; Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken transversely along the line 3--3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a transverse crosssectional view along the line 4-'t of Fig. 2; Figure 5 is a fragmentary rear elevational View of safe door, with: the usual rear cover plate removed, showing the improvements as applied 1n operatively set position; and Figure 6 is a view analogous to Fig. 5, but il-e lustrating the permutation lock in. dotted lines as having been disrupted, the previously tautened wire cable severed, and the auxiliary locking bolt tripped and sprung into operative position.

Referring first more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, in describing the details of construction and assembly of the auxiliary locking device by itself, although obviously the exact details disclosed may be substituted for by substantial equivalents, the numeral 10 designates the auxiliary bolt casing which may simply consist of a tube or barrel. that may be solid or plugged at its lower end, as at 11, open at its upper end 12, where it may be provided with external threads if desired for screwthreaded attaching purposes, and providing an aperture or slot 13 in its peripheral wall at a suitable position for the reception of the tooth or detent of a trigger element when under restraint, the trigger element being so mounted as to cause its detent at all times to tend to swing away from, the aperture 13. The tubular casing is also preferably provided with an elongated longitudinal slot 1 1, through its upper wall, for a purpose hereinafter appearing.

The external peripheral face of the casing 10, towards its upper end and on the side opposite to the aperture 13, provides a lateral lug 15 for suitably mounting an adjusting bolt 16, disposed longitudinally of the casing, to which bolt there is attached the upper end of a coil spring 17 while the lower end of the latter is connected under substantial tension with the power end of a bell crank lever element, as by means of an attaching pin or otherwise. The bell crank is the trigger element of the device, and while not necessarily so it is preferably formed as a straddling frame member that provides the lower lateral spaced arms 18, mounting the aforesaid attaching pin shown as the cross bar 19, and the upstanding side arms 21 which provide at their upper ends for the detent cross bar 22 that is disposed for entry through the slot 13 and into the interior of the casing 10. At the corners where the inverted U-shaped upstanding arms 21 merge with the lower lateral arms 18, the trigger element is supported by a trunnion pin. 20, or other pivotal means, associated with the solid bottom 11 of the casing. The cross pin 19 may also pivotally suspend a loop member or bail 23 to operate the power arms 18 of the trigger, against the tension ofthe spring 17, for throwing the detent element 22 into and through the aperture 13.

The upper compartment of the casing 10 houses the shooting bolt 2a of the device,

which bolt towards its lower end provides a recess 25 in its peripheral face for the reception of the detent 22 in latching association, the bolt 24: being mounted within the casing by and under the tension of a supporting coil sprin 26, which is located in the lower compartment of the casing in abutment with the lower end of the shooting bolt and the solid bottom 11 of the casing.

Wherethe longitudinal slot 1-1: is formed in the casing 10, the object thereof is to provide for the use of a handle to operatively set the bolt 24; with reference to the detent 22. The said handle may simply consist of a screw 27 threaded into the bolt so as to project through the slot 14, and which. will additionally serve to center the recess 25 of the bolt with reference to the detent 22. This f ature is not strictly essential although it may be very desirable for the principal reason that after the auxiliary locking device has been mounted on the door, but before it has been finally set in operatively latched relation by the tautened wire cable, as will later appear, it is preferable to finally determine that no sticking nor hitch will occur with. reference to its proper automatic operation when its restraining tautened wire connection is clipped or otherwise disruptively severed or substantially eased up on, and the projecting screw 27 affords a facile means for pulling the bolt 24 downwardly within its cas ing against the tension of its supporting spring 26. After the device has been finally set, however, the screw projection 27 may be removed if so desired.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, the numeral 31 indicates the lower top stepped wall of a safe door which is bored. as at 30, for the passage of the upper end of the bolt 24: into locking entry with a complementary recess (not shown) formed in the underneath face of the upper wall of the safe body (not shown) as well as being provided with a merging bore of larger diameter, as at 32, that is preferably inter nally threaded for securely seating the upper end of the casing 10. Of course. it will be understood that the auxiliary locking device could be disposed at other positions on the door than as actually shown at the top thereof, or that even a plurality of such auxiliary locking devices might be employed, if desired, by altering their positions, as well as the dispositions of the restraining tautened wire or wires, and the complementary bores and recesses just previously referred to, but all of these are obvious expediences which require no specific illustration for the purpose of clearly setting forth the real invention.

33 conventionally indicates the main or permutation lock of the safe door, and 34 is disruptive force of any character, and 37' simply indicates a convenient anchoring means for one end of the wire connection 36, which anchoring means 3T,however,may well be located at any other suitablepositioinas for instance to the lower wall of the safe door. It is understood from the drawings that the other end of the wire 36 is connected to the power arm 18 of the trigger element or even to the lower end of the coil spring 17 in any suitable way, although the bail or loop member 23 provide'sa convenient means for this attachment. it is also understood that the wire passes over the back ofthe tumbler cas ing of the main lock 33, being drawn tautly l'll1'(3()\ '6l','l)ut at this positioirthe wire connection could have branching arms in the nature of a bridling element, if desired, and

likewise the wire connection might provide over the back of the tumbler zone, but all of these features will be clear without special illustration, if it be found desirable to em ploy them.

T he real invention perhaps may be better understood by a brief description of the operation'and functioning of the applied arrangement of the elements a whole. but

before doing this it may not be amiss to emphasize the extremely convenient mounting of the spring control for the trigger element,

as directly associated and combined with the auxiliary bolt casing 10, which controlling: SPTIDQ' 17 is disposed longitudinally of the casing 10, being in connection atone endr with'the' transverse power arm 18 of the trigger and at its other end with the lug l5, projected from the casing, either directly or perhaps preferably as shown by the interposition of the adjusting bolt 16 that may be controlled by a nut head.

()peration. lf the auxiliarylockin bolt 24; is set in withdrawn latched position, as

would be illustrated by Figs. 1 to 5, and is maintained in such set position by the tautwhich will be apparent.

ing and unlocking positions, without any in terference other than the legitimate control thereof by the main or permutation lock of the safe. Qlowever, assuming that the safe door is closed and locked by the main bolts, with the permutation lock set, and that an attempt is made to burglarize the sate by the usual method of dislodging the permutation lock or its tumblers, then it will be obvious that the auxiliary locking device will be im mediately and effectively brought into play the moment that the wire 36 is in any man ner disrupted or even substantially eased up if not actually broken. which latter however would doubtless occur, when it would be shot into locking position as indicated at Fig. 6. This would likewise be true, of course, if a hole was first formed through thesafe door and the wire 36 severed before attempting to disrupt the permutation lock. The action in any instance would be as fol lows :-Upon the dislodgement or disruption ofthe wire connection 36, which should preferably be a light copper wire of appropriate tensile strength, the upper portion thereof would become relaxed, whereupon the tension of the spring 17 would pull the power arm 18 of the trigger upwardly and force the upstanding arm 26 to swing away from the casing 10 forreleasing the detent 22 from the recess 25 of the bolt 24, which latter would then be shot immediately by the pressure of its supporting spring 26, all of Having thus clearly disclosed the invention, it is believed that allof the advantages of the improvements will be quite obvious, especially when we consider the extreme.

necessity of taking every precaution to make a safe or the like as burglar proof as possible. but while I have thus fully set forth my improvements, it will nevertheless be understood that I do not wish to unnecessarily restrict myself to all of the details exactly as disclosed. excepting as they may come with the terms of the ensuing claims. or equivalent elements employed, and as fairly interpreted in the light of the specification requisite, for manifestly various alterations might be made without departing from the gist or spirit of the invention.

hat I do claim, as new and is 2- v 1. In protective systems for safety clos sures providing; a main lock control therefor, the combination of an'auxiliary looking boltzthrusting means for automatically shooting said bolt when released; a bellcrank trigger lever providing a detent for engaging said bolt from oneside, to latch same in its retracted position, and leaving a power arm projecting in a direction topatentable,

wards the opposite side thereof; means con.-

tinuoush exertin an o )erative force on said n D a 1 I power arm, in the directlonof the operat1ve thrust of said bolt, for normally tripping said trigger lever; and a restraining line anchored at one position to suitably extend across said main lock in tautened connection with the power arm of said trigger lever when latched. i

2. In protective systems for safety clo sures providing a main lock control therefor, the combination of an auxiliary locking bolt; thrusting means for automatically shooting said bolt when released; a bellcrank trigger lever providing detent for engaging said bolt from one side, to latch same in its retracted position, and having a power arm projecting in a direction towards the opposite side thereof; a spring element operating said power arm in the direction of operative thrust of said bolt, for normally tripping said trigger lever;

and a restraining line anchored at one posi-' tion to suitably extend across said main lock in tautened connection with the power arm of said trigger lever when latched.

3. In protective systems for safety clo sures providing a main lock control there for, the combination of an auxiliary locking bolt and easing therefor; thrusting means for automatically shooting said bolt when released; a bell-crank trigger lever providing a detent for engaging said bolt from one side, to latch same in its retracted position, and having a power arm projecting in a direction towards the opposite side thereof; a coiled spring secured. at one end to said casing in advance of said power arm, relatively to the direction of operative thrust of said bolt, and in connection at its other end therewith, for normally tripping said trigger lever by pulling its power arm in the direction of operative thrust of said bolt; and a restraining line anchored at one position to suitably extend across said main lock in tautened connection with the power arm of said trigger lever when latched.

4;. In protective systems for safety clo sures providing a main lock control therefor, the combination of an auxiliary looking bolt and easing therefor; thrusting means for automatically shooting said bolt when released; a bell-crank trigger lever providing a detent for engaging said bolt from one side, to latch same in its retracted position, and having a power arm projecting in a direction towards the opposite side thereof; a coiled spring secured at one end to said casing in advance of said power arm, relatively to the direction of operative thrust of said bolt, and in connection at its other end therewith, for normally tripping said trigger lever by pulling its power arm in the direction of thrust of said bolt, the said coil spring being thus so connected under adjustable regulating tension; and a restraining line anchored at one position to suitably extend across said main lock in tautened connection with the power arm of said trigger lever when latched.

5. A self-contained auxiliary locking de-* vice, particularly adapted for protective systems of the character disclosed, embodying a casing open at its outer end; a distending coiled-spring disposed within the other end thereof; a bolt operated through said open end by said coiled spring; a bellcrank trigger lever providing a detent for engaging said bolt from one side, to latch same in its retracted position, and having a power arm projecting in a direction towards the opposite side of said casing; and a coiled spring extending alongside said casing, with one end connected thereto and with its other end so operatively associated with said power arm as to actuate the latter in the direction of thrust of said bolt, for normally tripping said trigger lever.

6. A selfcontained auxiliary locking device, particularly adapted for protective sys tems of the character disclosed, embodying a casing open at its outer end; a distending coiled spring disposed within the other end thereof; a bolt operated through said open end by said coiled spring; a bell-crank trigger lever providing a detent for engaging said bolt from one side, to latch same in its retracted position, and having'a power arm projecting in a direction towards the opposite side of said casing: and a compressing coiled spring, extending longitudinally alongside of said casing, with one end in connection with said power arm and with its other end in connection with said casing, for actuating said power arm in the direction of thrust of said bolt to normally trip said trigger lever.

7. A self-contained auxiliary locking device, particularly adapted for protective systems of the character disclosed, embodying a casing open at its outer end; a distending coiled spring disposed within the other end thereof; a bolt operated through said open end by said coiled spring; a bell-crank trigger lever providing a detent for engaging said bolt from one side, to latch same in its retracted position, and having a power arm projecting in a direction towards the opposite side of the casing; a compressing coiled spring, extending longitudinally alongside of said casing, with one end in connection with said power arm; and an adjustable element connecting the other end of said latter coiled spring with said casing in advance of said power arm, relatively to the direction of operative thrust of said bolt.

8. A self-contained auxiliary locking device, particularly adapted for protective systems of the character disclosed, embodying an elongated casing open at its outer end; a distending coiled spring disposed within the other end thereof; a bolt operated through standing arms, providing a detent element 'for engaging said bolt from one side, to latch same in its retracted position; and a coiled spring extending longitudinally alongside of said casing, with one end connected thereto and with its other end so operatively associated with said power arms asto actuate the latter in the direction of thrust of said bolt, for normally tripping said trigger lever.

9. A self-contained auxiliary locking device, particularly adapted for protective systems of the character disclosed, embodying an elongated casing open at its outer end and providing a longitudinal slot there-- through; a distending coiled spring disposed within the other end thereof; a bolt operated through said open end by said coiled spring; a handle pin projecting from said bolt through said longitudinal slot; a trigger lever providing a detent for engaging said bolt to latch same in its retracted position; means normally tripping said trigger lever under resilient tension; and means for connecting said trigger lever with a tautened line for holding said trigger in latched position until said tautened line is disrupted.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

JOHN W. STORER. 

